Doughnut machine and the like



Oct-12, 1937. c. E. CARPENTER DOUGHNUT MACHINE AND THE LIKE OriginalFild Dec. 15, 193i) 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ogt. 12, 1937. c. E. CARPENTER 73DbUGHNUT MACHINE AND THE LmE Original File d Dec. 15, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 2 a ing- Oct. 12, 1937. c. E. CARPENTER 2,095,731

DOUGHNUT MACHINE AND THE LIKE Original Filed Dec. 15, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDOUGHNUT MACHINE AND THE LIKE Charles E. Carpenter, Chicago, Ill.,assign'or to Alexander S. T. Lagaard, Minneapolis, Minn.

12 Claims.

This application is refiled for my earlier application Serial Number502,490, filed Dec. 15, 1930. I

This invention has to do with improvements in machines for makingdoughnuts and the like.

The invention relates to certain improvements in machines for the abovepurpose which are so constructed as to be capable of relatively largevol- '20 vanced through the cooking vessel as distinct groups.

One object of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby thedoughnuts may be individually formed and delivered in to the frying 25pan from a single doughnut forming mechanism. In this connection, onefeature of the invention relates to the provision of a device embodyingthe above feature and which is also so constructed that as theindividual doughnuts are delivered 30 in to the hot grease of the fryingpan from a single stationary doughnut forming mechanism, they are thenmoved laterally in sequence so as to establish a row of the specifiednumber extending across the width of the frying pan or 35 cookingvessel; and then this group is advanced lengthwise of the frying pan orcooking vessel as a group and is finally delivered therefrom after beingproperly cooked or fried.

By the use of the above arrangement, the in- ,40 dividual doughnuts asthey are formed by the doughnut forming mechanism are all dropped intothe hot grease of the frying panor cooking vessel at a given location,and they are shifted laterally into a row extending across the frying 5pan or cooking, vessel, and then these rows are bodily advancedlengthwise of the frying pan or cooking vessel so as to perform andcomplete the cooking operations.

The device is also in some casesprovided with means for turning thecooking or frying doughnuts during the interval that they are in thefrying pan or cooking vessel, and also in some cases means are providedfor delivering the completely fried doughnuts from the frying pan orcooking 55 vessel as they arrive at adelivery point,

In Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,776,781, issued to meSeptember 30, 1930, for improvements in doughnut machines and the like,

I have disclosed a construction of machine in which the doughnut formingdevice itself may be 5 shifted bodily back and forth over the frying panor cooking vessel so as to drop the consecutive doughnuts in a rowextending across the frying pan, which row is thereafter advancedlengthwise of the frying pan during thecooking operation. In the presentcase, the doughnut forming mechanism is located stationary, and thedoughnuts themselves are-advanced across the width of the frying pan orcooking vessel in order to form a row thereof.

Another feature of the invention relates to an improved construction ofdevice whereby the action of the doughnuts when originally introducedinto the bath of hot grease may be controlled.

In this connection, it will be understood that when a raw doughnut isfirst dropped into the hot liquid grease, it settles down into the bodyof the grease and remains completely submerged for a short interval,generally a few seconds; and during this interval it expands or pufisout sufiiciently so that its buoyancy becomes suflicient to cause it torise to the top of the grease and float thereon. When it commences tofloat it remains approximately one-half of its bulk submerged in thegrease bath.

In order to more effectively control the action of the doughnuts duringthis preliminary stage of the cooking operation, I have provided a submerged platform or deck in the body of the grease onto which thedoughnut falls and by which it is V initially sustained when originallyintroduced into the grease bath.

The doughnuts rest flat on this submerged deck or platform and aresustained thereby until they become of sufficient buoyancy to rise andfloat on the surface of the grease.- By this means the positions of thedoughnuts are better con trolled and when they rise to the top they willbe more accurately located in the desired posi-' tion for subsequentmovements.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detaileddescription of the same, which consists in the features of constructionand combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a plan view of the machine em- .bodyingthe features of my present invention, the doughnut forming and droppingmechanism and certain other parts having been removed in order of themachine.

The machine herein illustrated is provided with a cooking or frying pan4, which is heated in the usual manner, as by means of a gas burner 5.Reference to Figure 1 shows that the width of this pan is sufficient toaccommodate three doughnuts located in each row across the width of thepan, but manifestly the machine may be made either larger or smaller asdesired.

Extending across the end portions of the pan 4 are the sprocket shaftsBand I. These carry sprockets 8 and 9 over which travel the flightchains I0 and II, respectively. These flight chains are provided withthe outwardly extending paddles or flights l2, which are connected tothe chains l0 and I l in such manner that said flights project outwardlyfrom the chains during the entire progress around the pan. The result isthat when the chains travel in the directions of the arrows in Figures 1and 2, the flights 12 on the top run of the chains travel from the shaft6 and sprockets 8 towards the shaft 1 and sprockets 9, and on the bottomrun of the chains the flights chine the pan 4 is enlarged laterally andis extended out into a shallow extension I5, the sides of whichextension are practically semi-circular as shown at l6 and [1 inFigure 1. Vertical shafts l8 and I9 are journaled substantially at thecenters of these semi-circular portions [6 and I1, said vertical shaftscarrying sprockets 20 and 2|. Chains 22 and 23 travel around thesesprockets 20 and 2|, said chains travelling in horizontal planes.

There are outwardly projecting flights 24 connected to the chains 22 and23 in such manner that said flights stand in vertical planes and as thesprockets rotate in the counter-clockwise'direction when viewed as inFigure 1, the flights sweep around through the extension of the fryingpan, and said flights stand outwardly at all positions of their travel.

Comparison of Figures 1 and 2 will show that the paths of travel of theflights I2 and 24 intersecteach other so that said flights must bepositions, the flights I 2 can move up or be advanced a position, theslots 25 receiving and slipping past the corresponding flights 24 inorder to permit the flight l 2 to move from a horizontal to the nextvertical position as shown in Figure 2.

' When the flights 12 stand in a given position, the

flights 24 may be shifted step by step in the direction ofthe arrowsshown in Figure 1.

It will also be observed that the combination of flights l2 and 24 atthe left hand end of the machine serve to establish a series of threepockets 26 26 and 26 located in a. row extending across the machine, andthe lower ends of these pockets are defined by the horizontal flight l2.The vertical flights 24 will in effect shift the pockets across thefrying pan in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1 so as to carry theentrapped doughnuts across the width of the machine.

Located above the pocket 26 in Figure 1 is a dough hopper 21 which isprovided with the downwardly extending throat 28 within which thedoughnuts are formed and from which said freshly formed doughnuts aredropped into the pocket 26*. This dough hopper and doughnut forming anddropping mechanism may be of any convenient construction, such as, forexample, that shown in Letters Patent of the United States 1,776,780issued to me September 30, 1930, although manifestly I do not intend tolimit myself to the above or any other specific type of construction. Iwill state, however that this doughnut forming and dropping mechanismincludes a shaft 29 which is rotated in order to form and deliver thedoughnuts from the throat 28; and for purposes of convenience, thearrangement may be such that a single doughnut is formed and deliveredfor each complete revolution of said shaft 29.

I have provided means for advancing the flights 24 one position awayfrom the observer in Figure 1 each time the doughnut forming anddropping mechanism is operated until all of the pockets across the widthof the machine (in the present case three) are occupied therebyestablishing a row of doughnuts across the width of the machine. Inconjunction therewith, I have also provided means for then advancing theflights l2 of the other carrier in the direction of the arrows in thefigures, so as to carry the row of doughnuts towards the right to thenext position, and at the same time thereby establishing a fresh row ofempty pockets for the reception of another series of fresh uncookeddoughnuts; and I have also provided means for turning the doughnutsduring the course of their travel and for finally delivering them fromthe pan. These mechanisms I will now explain more in detail.

In the central position of the pan 4 there is a transversely extendingturner shaft 30 having the outwardly extending fingers 3| so that byrocking said shaft 30 through a proper angle, somewhat more than aquarter of a revolution, the doughnuts will be lifted by the fingers 30and advanced and turned over and delivered into the next succeedingposition between the flights l2. For this purpose the shaft 30 isprovided with a crank arm 32 by means of which it may be rocked.

I have also provided a'transversely extending rock shaft 33 having thefingers or arms 34 reaching outwardly therefrom at the delivery end ofthe machine; so that by turning the shaft 33 through the proper angle,somewhat more than a quarter turn, the doughnuts will be lifted up anddelivered out onto a wharf or table 35 and thence to a delivery tray 36.For this purpose the shaft 33 is provided with a crank 31 by means ofwhich it may be rocked.

It will be noted that the shafts 30 and 33 are beneath thein; andthatthe fingers 3| and 34 reach downwardly and then backwardlyJso thatthefloating doughnuts will take their'po'sition above said fingers andbe properly manipulated. It will also be noted in this connection thatthe edge portions of the flights l2 are slotted or serrated as shown at38, so that the flights |2 can travel towards the right in Figures 1 and2 while the doughnut turning and delivering mechanisms are standing intheir normal position.

Extending across the machine there is a drive shaft 39 which can beturned in any convenient manner as by means of the crank 40. The shaftI8, upon which the sprockets 20 are secured, extends upwardly asufficient distance to drive the shaft 29 of the doughnut forminganddropping mechanism, such drive being effected through the medium ofthe bevel gears 4| and 42. Consequently, the doughnut forming anddropping mechanism is operated in harmony with the movement of theflights 24, and the parts are so timed that the freshly formed doughnutswill be dropped between two of the flights 24 and into the corner pocket26 as already explained.

Journaled upon the upwardly projecting portion of the shaft I8 is asleeve 43, the upper end of which carries a worm gear 44' which isdriven by a worm 45 on the shaft 39. The lower portion of the sleeve 43carries a sprocket 46; and a sprocket 41 is journaled on the upwardlyextending portion of the shaft 19 at the other side of the machine. Achain 48 passes around the two sprockets 46 and 41, said chain lying,therefore above the flights 24 and above the sprockets 20 and 2|.

The chain 48 carries two outwardly extending pin blocks 49 and 58 whichare located at opposite sides of the chain so that they are equallyspaced .around the length of the chain. Each of these pin blocks carriesa vertical pin 5| having on its upper'end a collar 52. These pinsnormally drop into the lowered position as indicated in Figure 2,wherein they engage the flights 24 so that the travel of the chain 48carries with it the flights 24 and chains 22 and 23. On the other hand,by raising the pins 5| in their blocks 49 and 5|], they will skip orpass over the top edges 'of the flights 24 so that the travel of thechain 46 is not communicated to said flights but continued independentlyof them;

For the above purpose, there are provided the cam plates 53 and 54 atthe two ends of the left hand portion of the machine, namely adjacent tothe positions of the sprockets 2| and 20, respectively. These cam platesare so formed and positioned that as the chain 48 travels along,carrying with it the blocks'49 and 50, the collars 52 of the pins 5|will ride onto said cam plates, thus raising the pins 5| high enough tocause them to pass over the flights 24, and this condition continuesuntil somewhat less than the distance of two spaces between the flights24 has been traversed, whereupon the pins are again allowed to descendinto position to engage the flights 24 as the travel continues. Theresult of this condition is that the driving connection between thechain 48 and the transverse carrier is maintained for a distance equalto three pockets, then said driving connection is disestablished and thechain 48 will advance the distance of two additional pockets before saiddriving connection is again reestablished for a further distance ofthree pockets, the operations continuing in this manner indefinitely. Itwill also be noted that 2,095,731 located hi'ghenough up so that'theflights l2 pass the doughnut fdr ning, andgdropping mechanism willfunction regiflai'ly 'chiy'during those inter vals during which thetransverse carrier operates.

It will be noted that the pins 5| extend some what above the position oftheir blocks 49 and as best indicated in Figure 2. Located at the farside of the machine above the position of the frying pan extension thereare the vertical shafts 55 and 56. These are provided on their lowerends with the toothed or star wheels 51 and 58 respectively. The teethof these star wheels project into the path of travel of the upwardlyextending portions of the pins 5|, so that as the chain 48 moves aroundthe end portion of its course, the upper end of the pin 5| will turn theshaft 55 through a specified amount of rotation and will afterwards turnthe shaft 56 through a specified amount of rotation, and these movementswill take place during the portion of travel of the chain 48 in whichthe flights 24 remain stationary. The shaft 55 is connected to theturnover and delivery devices by means of suitable connections includinggears 59 and 60, shaft 6|, crank 62, and link 63, sothat each time theshaft 55 is notched over one portion, the turnover and delivery devicesare actuated, being returned to their normal positions by means of aspring 64. The shaft 6 carries on one end a gear meshing with a gear 66on shaft 69 which connects with the shaft 56 by a suitable train ofmechanisms including gears 61 and 68 and shaft 69; the arrangement beingsuch that each time the shaft 56 is notched over one position the shaft6 is advanced the proper distance to move the carriers |2 forward oneposition. It will also be noted that this operation takes place duringthe interval while the flights 24 are stationary.

It will now be evident that I have provided an arrangement whereby thedoughnuts are turned over and advanced to the next succeeding pocket andwhereby the finished doughnuts are lifted out of the frying pan and aredelivered, these operations being performed in proper sequence withrespect to the movements of all the other parts of the machine.

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of thefeatures of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myselfthereto except as I may do so in the claims.

Iclaim: 1. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a frying pan, doughnut-forming and. delivering meanslocated above the same and adapted to deliver doughnuts into the pan ata given point, said doughnuts initially sinking below the surface ofliquid grease contained within the pan and thereafter rising andfloating upon thesurface of said grease due to after acquired buoyancy,a conveyor including a chain travelling in closed circuit of travellying in a vertical plane,

radially extending paddles connected to said chain and travellingtherewith, said paddles extending in a vertical direction at thepositions of the horizontal extending portions of the circuit of traveland said flights extending horizontally at the positions of the endportions of the circuit of travel, one of said end portions of thecircuit of travel being located adjacent to the position of introductionof the doughnuts into the pan whereby each flight stands in asubstantially horizontal outwardly extending position beneath thedoughnut forming and delivering means during the end portion of flighttravel, and whereby each flight when in such a position constitutes asubstantially horizontal plate adapted to receive and supportdoughnutsfreshly introduced into the liquid grease from the doughnutforming and delivering means.

2. In a machine of the class described the combination of a relativelyshallow frying pan adapted to receive and contain liquid grease,

means for forming and delivering doughnuts into the pan at a givenpoint, and means for distributing said doughnuts in the pan, said meanscomprising a conveyor including a chain, or the like, travelling in aclosed circuit of travel, lying in a horizontal plane, together with aseries of vertical radially extending paddles connected to said chain orthe like and reaching outwardly therefrom, and means for advancing saidconveyor and paddles harmoniously with respect to introduction ofdoughnuts into the grease of the pan, whereby the pan may be relativelyshallow and contain a minimum quantity of grease due to the travel ofsaid conveyor in a circuit of travel lying in a substantially horizontalplane.

3. In a doughnut machine, a frying pan, a conveyor disposed within saidpan and having radially extending paddles adapted at one end of theconveyor to extend substantially horizontally and when intermediate itsends to extend vertically, and means for depositing formed doughnutsupon said paddles when in their substantially horizontal positions.

4. In a doughnut machine, a frying pan, a conveyor disposed within saidpan and having radially extending paddles adapted at one end of theconveyor to extend substantially horizontally and when intermediate itsends to'extend vertically, and means for successively depositing formeddoughnuts in rows upon said paddles when in their substantiallyhorizontal positions.

5. In a doughnut machine, a frying pan, a conveyor within said panincluding two vertical shafts and an endless member guided for movementby said shafts and having two runs spaced the same distance from thebottom of the pan,

paddles extending outwardly from said endlessmember and following alongthe bottom of the pan throughout both runs, means for introducing formeddoughnuts between said paddles at one end of the conveyor, and means forremoving the doughnuts from said conveyor at another locality.

6. In a doughnut machine, a frying pan, a conveyor within said panincluding two vertical shafts and an endless member guided for movementby said shafts and having two runs spaced the same distance from thebottom of the pan, paddles extending outwardly from said endless memberand following along the bottom of the pan throughout both runs, meansfor introducing formed doughnuts between said paddles at one end of theconveyor, and a second conveyor extending transversely of said firstnamed conveyor and including two horizontal shafts, an endless memberdriven by said shafts, and paddles extending outwardly from said endlessmemher and adapted to extend between the paddles of said first namedconveyor to remove the doughnuts from between the same.

7. In a doughnut machine, a frying pan, a conveyor for doughnutsdisposed above said frying pan and including two shafts and an endlessmember guided for movement by said shafts, a driving mechanism carriedby both of said shafts and including a movable driving member, a drivenmember on said endless member for engagement with said driving member,and means for moving said driving member out of engagement with saiddriven member.

8. In a doughnut machine, a frying pan, a conveyor for doughnutsdisposed above said frying pan and including two shafts and an endlessmember guided for movement by said shafts, a driving mechanism includinga chain, a movable driving member on said chain, a driven member on saidendless member for engagement with said driving member, and means formoving said driving member out of engagement with said driven member.

9. In a doughnut machine, a frying pan, a conveyor for doughnutsdisposed above saidfrying pan and including two shafts and an endlessmember guided for movement by said shafts, a driving mechanism includinga chain, a guide on said chain, a pin slidable in said guide, a drivenmember on said endless member for engagement with said pin, and meansfor moving said pin out of engagement with said driven member.

10.-In a doughnut machine, a frying pan, a conveyor for doughnutsdisposed above said frying pan and including two shafts and an endlessmember guided for movement by said shafts, a driving mechanism includinga chain, a guide on said chain, a pin slidable in said guide, a drivenmember on said endless member for engagement with said pin, and a camdisposed along the path of travel of said pin, said cam serving to movesaid pin out of engagement with said driven member.

11. In a doughnut machine, a frying pan, a conveyor for doughnutsdisposed above said frying pan and including an endless member, a drivenmember on said endless member, a second conveyor for doughnuts disposedabove said frying pan and including an endless member, a driven memberon said second endless member, a driving mechanism for said conveyors,said driving mechanism including a chain, and a driving member on saidchain adapted in one position of the chain to engage said first drivenmember and in another position of said chain to engage said seconddriven member to effect successive operation of said conveyors.

12. In a doughnut machine, a frying pan, a Conveyor for doughnutsdisposed above said frying pan and including an endless member, a drivenmember on said endless member, a turnover device for the doughnutsincluding a movable member, a driven member on said movable member, adriving mechanism for said conveyor and turnover device, said drivingmechanism including a chain, and a driving member on said chain adaptedin one position of said chain to .engage said first driven member and inanother position of said chain to engage the second driven member.

CHARLES E. CARPENTER.

